This year, there have been several instances of drone smuggling at a New Jersey military base.

This year, a New Jersey air base has reported several drone incursions by smugglers trying to illegally transport various items into a federal prison located on the military installation.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, which hosts FCI Fort Dix prison, has implemented measures to prevent unauthorized drone use over its facilities, which have flight restrictions that forbid UAS operations.

"The spokesperson stated that there have been several drone detections this year, all aimed at smuggling contraband into the federal correctional institution located on their base. The most recent interception took place on September 15, 2024. They emphasized that they take each case seriously and work closely with local law enforcement to maintain the safety and security of their installation."

The War Zone reported that contraband such as cellphones, cellphone accessories, drugs, tobacco, weight loss supplements, and other items have been smuggled into prisons using drones in the past.

The 87th Air Base Wing is situated on a sprawling base that covers 42,000 acres and houses the prison.

Recent weeks have seen a series of drone sightings in New Jersey that have left both residents and officials puzzled.

The Biden administration has stated that the drones do not pose a public safety risk and do not seem to indicate foreign interference.

The Pentagon stated on Tuesday that the drones are most likely being operated by hobbyists for leisure activities.

"Could some of those drones be involved in malicious activities? It's entirely possible, according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. While drones flying near or over U.S. military installations is not a new occurrence, given the high volume of drone flights on a daily basis, it is taken seriously."